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Since a large portion of mathematics instruction in 5th-grade centers around fractions, our students need practice connecting the relationships between partial quantities. Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing becomes tricky when visualizing a fraction model when you just draw it! How much do you understand about the part-to-whole relationship? Not as much as when you cut things or build things with your hands. Trying to connect quantities and values to objects in the real world has been a challenge for my students. LEGO pieces are great because most children have played with them and don't see them as "math." Having physical representations of fractions—a visual and kinesthetic model that they can touch and build—will help my students in the following areas of learning: My students can build fractions using LEGO blocks with different colors. For instance, the 1x1 LEGO pieces can be used to represent one half using two 1x1 pieces with two different colors. Increasing the ratio one 1x1 LEGO block at a time allows them to see the progression of numerator and denominator with equivalent fractions. By connecting the addition and subtraction of unlike denominators, my students can connect smaller parts-to-whole ratios. I noticed last year when teaching this concept that it's difficult to visualize on paper when drawing because there can be a disconnect between the proportions. Seeing and feeling that you cannot physically add a smaller LEGO piece to a larger LEGO piece and have the same number of pieces that make up the whole will help them understand this better! By connecting the area models of numbers when dividing fractions with different denominators, my students can show how the denominator of the divisor connects with multiplication. (This is a very weird concept to understand so using LEGOs will help.)

About my class

Since a large portion of mathematics instruction in 5th-grade centers around fractions, our students need practice connecting the relationships between partial quantities. Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing becomes tricky when visualizing a fraction model when you just draw it! How much do you understand about the part-to-whole relationship? Not as much as when you cut things or build things with your hands. Trying to connect quantities and values to objects in the real world has been a challenge for my students. LEGO pieces are great because most children have played with them and don't see them as "math." Having physical representations of fractions—a visual and kinesthetic model that they can touch and build—will help my students in the following areas of learning: My students can build fractions using LEGO blocks with different colors. For instance, the 1x1 LEGO pieces can be used to represent one half using two 1x1 pieces with two different colors. Increasing the ratio one 1x1 LEGO block at a time allows them to see the progression of numerator and denominator with equivalent fractions. By connecting the addition and subtraction of unlike denominators, my students can connect smaller parts-to-whole ratios. I noticed last year when teaching this concept that it's difficult to visualize on paper when drawing because there can be a disconnect between the proportions. Seeing and feeling that you cannot physically add a smaller LEGO piece to a larger LEGO piece and have the same number of pieces that make up the whole will help them understand this better! By connecting the area models of numbers when dividing fractions with different denominators, my students can show how the denominator of the divisor connects with multiplication. (This is a very weird concept to understand so using LEGOs will help.)

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Ms. O's Oreos' Classroom Edit display name

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Past projects 1

Fraction Models Using LEGO Parts

About my class

About my class

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Ms. O's Oreos' Classroom Edit display name

Support her classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Support Ms. O's Oreos' classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Past projects 1

Fraction Models Using LEGO Parts

About my class

About my class

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Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.